How are you coping with asthma in the heat?

[Touty]

I’ve been struggling, the humidity has been over 60 everyday recently, I’ve been finding it hard to breathe. I’ve got my blue inhaler but don’t want to rely on it too much.

Anyone else? Any tips?

Bump

Might be worth having a chat with the doctor about alternatives to the blue inhaler as most doctors don’t prescribe them in the first instance. I’m on lufobec and it’s very effective.

Asthma hasn't been too bad but have developed terrible hayfever which I don't normally have which has teamed up with the asthma.

If you are on a blue inhaler, definitely get an asthma review, the new recommendation is for everyone to have combined inhalers and it's so much better.

I'm better in the heat and even humidity (despite having hay-fever too). Mine is triggered by cold or a sudden change in temperature. Daily antihistamines keep the hay-fever in check and only once this summer has the pollen been so bad that it triggered an attack which needed the blue inhaler. Can you increase the dose of your preventer? I go from single dose to double in the winter and drop again in the spring as per my asthma plan.

I still have separate turbohalers (brown and blue) because the asthma is so well managed I rarely need the blue so my GP doesn't want to introduce potential problems where there aren't any currently.

Mine has been quite bad actually, and exacerbated by annoying neighbour and his fire pit cookery upon which he burns what can only be described as perfumed wood.

I hoover through inhaler. I have a fostair but you can only have 8 squirts a day of this, and then I have salamol on top. I've tried everything, different inhalers etc. Mine is allergic in the most part. And I live in the countryside in a thatched house so I don't stand a chance!

My peak flow drops 50 points when I wake up and then several times a day.

Its definitely improved since the temperature has dropped. I didn't use my blue inhaler on sat or sun, just squirts of fostair.

But when it was very hot, I lost count of how much I used it. I don't have a useful asthma person, but if yours is any good you could talk to them about it.

@Carsexitthroughthecarpark do you take an antihistamine everyday?

I take a cetirizine everyday year round and it's done wonders for my asthma. Then in pollen seasons it might be 2 or 3 cetirizine.

Yes two or three (though GP says I can have four) fexofenadine.

Helps to an extent and certainly better than not taking it.

Ive had asthma since early childhood.
I’ve been changed to Forstair in the last year for my asthma, generally okay, but I’m topping up with blue inhaler which I still have, this humidity is playing havoc with me during this heatwave, I’m also taking certrazine daily for hay fever symptoms. Roll on Autumn & this is from someone that generally likes the sunshine.

Fexofenadine is incredibly helpful. I’ve used it this year and allergy type symptoms are way down

@Chatterboxy i also top up my fostair significantly with salamol (blue).

Fostair certainly isn't the magic solution that some GPs think.

the new recommendation is for everyone to have combined inhalers

Why is this?

Fexofenadine does nothing for me, but Dymista spray has been life changing, genuinely.

@Bobbinz i think it's because the salbutamol/salamol is addictive and sometimes people overuse it. (me included).

Plus with combined inhaler it means that people are getting some preventative drug with each dose, thus not relying on them to use the preventer drug as a standalone.

I’m always better in summer - the winter is killer for exercise-induced asthma. Changed to the combined inhaler about 6 months ago and it’s made a big difference - no nighttime coughing anymore. Did a 10 mile time trial (bike) the other day which is usually a recipe for 2 days of coughing and wheezing and the post-race coughing fits only lasted about 10 minutes which felt unreal - usually I’m coughing to the point of vomiting. Can’t recommend the combined inhaler enough.

My dd also found the combined inhaler much more effective

My asthma is well controlled & the heat causes no issues for me. I use my preventer inhaler every day without exception. I also take antihistamines daily between the start of May and the end of summer to control my many triggers & allergies.

It sounds like your asthma may be poorly controlled, OP. Do you use a preventer inhaler? If so, do you take it as directed? If the answer to either question is ‘no’ you might want to consult your GP. Asthma is very controllable IF you take your meds,

My asthma is generally very well controlled except in very cold weather or now it seems very hot humid weather. On holiday when it was 34 degrees I had to stay inside until about 4pm each day. When I tried going out I struggled to breathe. I'm on Fostaire and it's generally really effective for me.

Because too many people would take loads of reliever in a flare but not increase preventer because you don't get the instant relief with preventer. In worst case scenario it meant inflammation went untreated and they end up in hospital or worse.

With combined inhalers, when you need more reliever you automatically get boosted preventer so getting you back to normal quicker.

My brother was admitted to hospital yesterday because of asthma and low oxygen in his blood. Hasn't had an asthma attack since he was about 14. It's got to be weather related. Hope you feel better soon

Oh and he's on a combined inhaler and takes daily antihistamine

I’ve now been given the Fobumix inhaler to try.

I know I overuse my blue inhaler but I've had this awful asthma cough for ages this summer.

@greenfingers2026 are you also increasing your preventative (or the combined if you have it?)

When I was on a preventative (qvar, which was bethametasone) I used to do four doses morning and evening when things got bad.

Now with the fostair you are limited and the person I saw in surgery nearly had a meltdown when I said I was using the allowed 8 doses of fostair, THEN switching to salamol!

I miss having separate inhalers. It was so much easier.

Saw our asthma nurse last week. She's put me on dymista.

i also have allergic reactions. I was prescribed Montelukast after I caught Covid and was in hospital in 2021. It is fantastic. I'm very compliant but unless I have a cold I don't feel like an asthmatic any more, no wheeze ever, no shortness of breath. I go to the gym every day and do not have any asthma symptoms.
The list of potential side effects is scary but I've not suffered any of them.

@Mathsbabe i have a box of montelukast in the drawer but can't bring myself to risk it.

I was suicidal on the Pill, with PMT and on micronised progesterone with HRT. I react to all the medication I take. So I'm quite worried that I will be the person who has the suicidal thoughts on montelukast.